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Lee Murtagh takes title fight for FREE!
Posted: 18 Oct 2010, 14:39
by slapbangwhallop
Guys, in an age when every fight that fans want to see is put on the long finger (or never happens) because it "doesnt make financial sense" then Lee Murtagh is a breath of fresh fuckin air.
Murtagh, from Leeds but from a family of boxers in Belfast, wants the Irish title so much that he is taking a fight against Anthony Fitzgerald for no purse and outside his normal weight division.
Hats off to the man, genuinely!
http://boxing-ireland.com/20100910_odon ... ut_61.html
Re: Lee Murtagh takes title fight for FREE!
Posted: 18 Oct 2010, 14:54
by JamesH
Fair play and the best of luck to him! Has he told his coach and manager their 10/15% is going to be zero?
Re: Lee Murtagh takes title fight for FREE!
Posted: 18 Oct 2010, 15:35
by dondada
I saw him last time out and he was 12st and looked comfortable.
Re: Lee Murtagh takes title fight for FREE!
Posted: 19 Oct 2010, 06:42
by SweetLikeSugar
Really refreshing to see someone who puts a belt before a cheque.
I'd love him to win it.
Re: Lee Murtagh takes title fight for FREE!
Posted: 19 Oct 2010, 08:31
by Wake up call
JamesH wrote:Fair play and the best of luck to him! Has he told his coach and manager their 10/15% is going to be zero?
Lee's self managed and self trained so no probs on that score.
Re: Lee Murtagh takes title fight for FREE!
Posted: 19 Oct 2010, 15:07
by housesecond
Lee's a great guy. I hope he gets it.
Re: Lee Murtagh takes title fight for FREE!
Posted: 19 Oct 2010, 19:13
by rocky2010
sean mannion and michael sweeney doing his cornor on the night
Re: Lee Murtagh takes title fight for FREE!
Posted: 20 Oct 2010, 04:10
by slapbangwhallop
rocky2010 wrote:sean mannion and michael sweeney doing his cornor on the night
I thought they might. Lee was going to fly out to Michael's flight in France and support him before he got injured.
Good to see Sean Mannion more involved - the forgotten man of boxing, I have to get round to doing a feature on him.
Re: Lee Murtagh takes title fight for FREE!
Posted: 20 Oct 2010, 08:39
by ShadrachSimmo
That's a rarity these days good on him. All the best Lee.
Re: Lee Murtagh takes title fight for FREE!
Posted: 20 Oct 2010, 08:57
by Jeff Thomas
MachoMan09 wrote:I'm not at all supportive of such an imprudent approach to business; the hurt business, no less. Murtagh's ardent lust for the Irish title is admirable but it is a dangerous precedant for professional fighters to start touting themselves out gratis. Before you know it, promoters will be encouraging young lads to box a series of freebies 'in order to build up your record, son'. Unacceptable, to me.
Once again, great point.
Re: Lee Murtagh takes title fight for FREE!
Posted: 20 Oct 2010, 09:42
by SweetLikeSugar
It could be argued that it's a good business move. If he wins the title then bigger and better paydays should come his way. I agree that it is a dangerous precedent to set but Murthagh can't worry about the consequences of him taking this fight for free (which in reality are not going to be that dire).
I'm taking my cyncial specs off and seeing this as what it is; a fighter putting glory before money.
Re: Lee Murtagh takes title fight for FREE!
Posted: 20 Oct 2010, 12:35
by bennie
What a sick joke! Murtagh needs to rethink this ludicrous decision.
Re: Lee Murtagh takes title fight for FREE!
Posted: 20 Oct 2010, 14:12
by slapbangwhallop
BIGMARK wrote:MachoMan09 wrote:I'm not at all supportive of such an imprudent approach to business; the hurt business, no less. Murtagh's ardent lust for the Irish title is admirable but it is a dangerous precedant for professional fighters to start touting themselves out gratis. Before you know it, promoters will be encouraging young lads to box a series of freebies 'in order to build up your record, son'. Unacceptable, to me.
excellent post, while i admire the guy for fighting for nothing as it's for a title once you take the romance out of the situation it seems a bit silly as you have pointed out so well it sets a dangerous precedant. Good luck to him though
Is every amateur boxer in the world "silly"?
Its not as simple as taking the fight for nothing. Murtagh is in the twilght of his career and has always wanted the Irish title. He was scheduled to fight the same boxer for this title in November 2009 and February 2010 but pulled out both times with an injury.
Re: Lee Murtagh takes title fight for FREE!
Posted: 20 Oct 2010, 14:26
by JamesH
It depends on the situation of the individual, and in this case I have no problem with it whatsoever. How much did Poonsawat Kratingdaenggym get for fighting Dunne? I remember it not being much more than nothing, but I guess he just really wanted the title shot.
Re: Lee Murtagh takes title fight for FREE!
Posted: 20 Oct 2010, 16:07
by slapbangwhallop
MachoMan09 wrote:slapbangwhallop wrote:BIGMARK wrote:
excellent post, while i admire the guy for fighting for nothing as it's for a title once you take the romance out of the situation it seems a bit silly as you have pointed out so well it sets a dangerous precedant. Good luck to him though
Is every amateur boxer in the world "silly"?
Its not as simple as taking the fight for nothing. Murtagh is in the twilght of his career and has always wanted the Irish title. He was scheduled to fight the same boxer for this title in November 2009 and February 2010 but pulled out both times with an injury.
Amateur boxing has no relevance to this discussion whatsoever.
It is as simple as Murtagh taking this fight for nothing because that is precisely what he is doing. The fact he is in the twilight of his career makes it worse, if anything. It smacks of desperation and that is never a good thing. Imagine an ageing prostitute, whose looks have gone, pimping herself out for free on the off chance that Richard Gere will hear how good her service is and come round the corner in a Lamborghini to whisk her away into the sunset. It's both fanciful and depressing.
I had typed out a long reply but cant be arsed to be honest, let just say I disagree. Both on the relevance of the point and the prostitution analogy. I'll leave it at that.
Re: Lee Murtagh takes title fight for FREE!
Posted: 20 Oct 2010, 19:07
by coneye
Certainly sets a BAD precedent .
Re: Lee Murtagh takes title fight for FREE!
Posted: 21 Oct 2010, 12:28
by boxingchat
Admire his spirit and desire but the Promoter and Board should be ashamed letting him do it. I hope he gets looked after even if the record shpows he's getting "nothing."
Re: Lee Murtagh takes title fight for FREE!
Posted: 21 Oct 2010, 12:34
by Wake up call
I wrote this piece for Lee's local paper, the Yorkshire Evening Post today.
http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/s ... 6592337.jp
Re: Lee Murtagh takes title fight for FREE!
Posted: 21 Oct 2010, 13:07
by Coco
It's not uncommon for fighters on small hall shows to fight for free to get wins and opportunities
Re: Lee Murtagh takes title fight for FREE!
Posted: 22 Oct 2010, 18:09
by hurlock
does this mean the champ get's more money?
does murtagh do any ticket's??
why didnt he offer a winner takes all :!:
the attention caused by this bid will attract & wen he get's beat & unpaid he'd of lined a scummy promoters pocket.
Re: Lee Murtagh takes title fight for FREE!
Posted: 27 Oct 2010, 05:00
by slapbangwhallop
Oooftt! Congo that was harsh stuff.
No doubting that Ciaran or Tommy T deserve a shot but no need to go over the ball like that.
Re: Lee Murtagh takes title fight for FREE!
Posted: 27 Oct 2010, 05:38
by dberry
Aussie light heavy weight Tim Bell
http://boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_ ... &cat=boxer did the same over here for the Australian LHW title, he also covered his own travel and accommodation costs, it paid off for him as he won by 6th round KO. It's a bold move and hats off to Lee Murtagh for taking the initiative. Good luck and fair play to you.